House of Representatives.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 120, 19 September 1885, Page 4

House of Representatives.

Wbllington, September 10. Th* whole of yesterday's sitting was taken *p by the debate on Captain Russell's motion, and though the matter of the resolution has no verbal reference to any public works in the colony, the discussion had reference to naught else but the Canterbury West Coast Railway. The railway intriguers threw off all disguise as to their reason for voting with Captain Russell, the effect of the remarks of Messrs Lance and others of his kidney being that the Canterbury, Nelson, and Weatland members considered their districts had claims on the House, and until these claims were granted they would do their best to prevent the expenditure of public money on other -works. Others went even further, and announced that they were voting to stop Tailway expenditure now with the object that when such expenditure was resumed their railway would be in the same position as other works. During the afternoon it appeared to the Canterbury members that there was some doubt as to their ability to carry Captain Russell's motion. They therefore waited on Mr Moss, and requested him to withdraw his amendment, to enable Mr Hurfithouse to move an amendment reducing the Estimates £414,000, not £300,000, as telegraphed yesterday afternoon. In making this request, the Opposition found themselves in this position. The only remnant? of the original motion, " That the House go into Committee of Supply," the word " that/ all the words following ife having been struck out, the first question to be put to the House was the addition of the words of Captain Russell's motion after the solitary " that," and should the addition of the motion be negatived, the question would be the insertion of the words of Mr Moss's motion— namely, that public works should not be stepped suddenly, but the Government should adopt measures for reduction during the recess. As its negation was also possible, the Government would be, "as you ■were," and would probably at once move the House into Committee of Supply. Again, the supporters of Mr Hursthouse's incipient amendment, knowing that it could not be moved till Mr Moss'o was disposed of, consequently wanted to arrange with that hon. gentleman to withdraw it, but he was not inclined to play their game. In the evening, the Canterbury members assumed a more confident air, and after fully seven per cent, of the members had spoken, the question was put by the acting Speaker that Captain Russell's motion stand part of question, and, mirabih dicta, it was carried without division on the voices. The ayes and noes were about equal, but thi Premier had passed round the word through the medium of the only actingGovernment "whip, Mr John McKenzie, that he did not want a division, consequently the member for Hawke's Bay's motion became part of the question without amendment. This course threw out Mr Moss's amendment. At 12.30 Mr O'Callaghan moved his amendment, "Provided that such reduction shall not affect such works as roads and bridges." As an instance of the difficulty of the position at this stage of the proceedings, I quote an extract from a note just received from a well-informed member, who has, at my request, been feeling the pulße of the House—" I am certain now that the Canterbury motion will be carried. The Government expect it also ; but they will probably take no notice of the vote, but will go directly into Supply and leave Capt. Russell to move amendments as they come. As to what is going to happen after, no one seems able to guese, but the general opinion is the Government will have enough to do to get through the session/ The only two speeches of the debate that were of special interest were those of Sir Julius Vogel and Major Atkineon. Sir Julius Vogel said the Government were asked not to discuss this question as a party one, and they would agree to that proposal He contended that if the resolutions were carried, it would inflict a largo amount of misery upon persons who "ivere employed on the public works of the colony. The meaning of knocking off £500,000 from the railway estimates would be that a large vote would have to be struck out of every district. It would mean knocking off £11,500 from the Huntly line; £20,000 from the Helensville line ; £15,000 from the Hamilton-Grahamstown line ; £65,000 from the Main Trunk line; £14,900 from the East and West Coast Railway ; £75,000 from the NapierWoodville ; £8,000 from Picton Southwards} £70,000 trom the Otago Central ; £10,000 from the Waimea Switzer. The two questions before tbe House "were the expediting of the construction of the East and West Coast Railway, and the expediency of constructing the railway. Since tbe speech he had delivered at Ash burton he had expressed his opinion that the East and West Coast line should be constructed, and the Government had last year introduced a bill with that object in view. He then detailed the progress of the schema proposed for that railway. He said, in his opinion, it was a most disastrous thing that the committee to inquire into the construction of the railway was not formed. If that railway had been constructed, it would open up a vast amount of land suitable for settlement, and would open up a large trade in timber, coal, and other industries, fie f aid the Government had received Bupport from two different sections in the Houbo. One section wis as much against the railway as the other wag in favour of it. The Government had therefore determined, in the interests of the railway, that it was not desirable that the railway should be made a party question. He -would ask the Canterbury and Kelson members whether they were wise in trying to weaken the Government, .which had ehown more disposition to construct that railway than any other Government would be likely to do. Referring to the district of Hawke's Bay, he said that district had absolutely revelled in public works expenditure. He had been credibly informed that between here and Hawke's Bay there were ten families who were worth two millions of money, but if it had not been for Public Works expenditure, they would not have be*en worth £2,000, and the hon. member for Hawke'a Bay was their representative. He referred at some length to the general railway policy of the Government. He said if the vote of £150,000 were passed it ■would lead to expeditious construction of the East and West Coast Railway. He trusted, even now, that there would be no foregone conclusion as to that railway. The Government would ask the House to vote on- the question, not as a party oie. Major Atkinson said after the speech of the Treasurer, it was impossible for him to allow the motion of Captain Russell to be disposed of .without referring to that speech, H? thought the speeches of the Treasurer this session had been most unfortunate, and they hid in every case produced a feeling of irritation oo members, The reason for the present motion was that the Opposition, were f ol-

lowing out the line of policy they had laic down. They would apparently |je assisted bj the Government in carrying it' out. Ht altogether differed from the Treasurer's statement that great misery would come on the workiog classes if the motion were carried. He stated distinctly that with the votes which it was proposed to give the Treasurer he would be able to keep the whole of the men who were at present em« ployed till long after the House met next year. The Treasurer had posed that night as the friend of the working-man, but he (Major Atkinson) contended that he came out here in the interest of the worst class oi money-lenders, the mortgagees. His whole speech tended in that direction. Majoi Atkinson proceeded to review the Treasurer's speeoh at considerable length. Major Atkinson, referring to the East and West Coast railway, said he had alwaye held that this railway was part of the trunk I lines of the co)ony,buthon. gentlemen k»ew I there wa9 in 1879 groat difficulty in bringing their expenditure within their income. They had to consider whether there was sufficient money to carry on the work, and as there was not sufficient funds, an Act was passed, entitled The Railway Constructions and Land Act,to enable that line to be constructed. The line somehow did not prosper, and the Act was suspended for another year to enable the Canterbury people to get up a Company to construct it. Government kept the bill alive for the purpose of allowing a syndicate to be formed, and the whole thing was in negotiation when the Atkinson Government went out of office. The present Government then took it up, but they were unable to get the vote through the House, which was the real test of the strength of the Government. He would ask, were they justified in handing over £380,000 for under- writing in connection with this line. He considered if thoy were to enter into the Meiggs scheme, it would result in the bankruptcy of the colony. He would also ask were thoy in a position to undertake a liability of £3,000,000 at the present time. Most decidedly not. He hoped the Government would take the Estimates into their serious consideration, and reduce them within; reasonable limits. I Mr Scobie McKenzie moved the adjournment of the debate. Messrs Turnbull and Samuel opposed the adjournment. On division the motion for adjournment was carried by 45 to 22, The debate was adjourned until 7.30 p m. next day, and the House rose at 2.30 a.m.